Welcome to Poetry Friday! This week Laura Purdie Salas is hosting us HERE. Be sure to stop by on your Poetry Friday travels. Thank you, Laura!
Lately I’ve been thinking about the privilege I had of growing up in a busy family restaurant.
This is the awning by the front door.
But, I didn’t always think it a privilege at the time.
My parents were always working. There were no days off in the summer. My four siblings and I worked, too, eventually. As a teen, it seemed such an unfortunate plight. Like most kids, I had little idea how lucky I was that good food was ubiquitous and my parents made a good living.
But the cooks, waiters, and bartenders and customers arriving each day, in addition to my family, have given me much to think and now, more than I have in the past, to write about. I’ve been writing poems for kids inspired by all the hustle and bustle. The dishwasher room next to the kitchen, was an interesting, if rather grim place. I have no picture but maybe this poem describes it.
Here’s one:
RESTAURANT DISHWASHER With a splashety-splash, a whoosh and a slosh Our big metal monster sure knows how to wash! Its giant door opens and the dishes slide in and rumbling, moaning and whining begin. It hides in the back room, in a hot steamy huff ready to tackle the grossest of stuff— forks spoons and knives, greasy and slick, nozzles and suds, it knows every trick! Takes courage to run it. Dishwashers are brave, and to even walk past it, you better behave. © Janice Scully 2022 (draft)
This is my last postcard this season, from the amazing artist and poet Michelle Kogan. See how she captures the movement of this tiger, the bent forward leg, its gaze forward.
Listen for tiger's
footsteps,
If you can't hear them
listen harder . . .
©Michelle Kogan 2022
Tiger tiger
by twilight
are you there
wishing the night?
Heed their call
prevent their plight . . .
© Michelle Kogan 2022
Thank you Michelle for this tribute to tigers. And thank you Laura for hosting. Have a great weekend!